Groove Metal

Blacklist-9 – Mentally Ill, Legally Sane Review

By GardensTale on March 15, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Eclipse Records, Groove Metal, Nu-metal, Reviews, Groove Metal, Nu Metal, 141 comments

“It’s funny how bands try to embellish their true nature through genre tags sometimes. Metalcore often tries to lay claim to melodic death metal, probably because it causes less out-of-hand rejection. Progressive metal promos are a minefield of djent bands, which can be progressive but are often anything but. Another one to be wary of is groove metal. Groove metal doesn’t have a great reputation in and of itself, and it’s bound to degrade further with the amount of nu-metal bands co-opting the term. Blacklist-9 (written randomly with or without hyphen even on the band’s own sources) ostensibly play groove metal.” Adding to the list.

Methedras – The Ventriloquist Review

By Mark Z. on December 6, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Italian Metal, Massacre Records, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 54 comments

“In my younger years, extreme metal baffled me. My untrained ears were often unable to follow the complex riffs and fast tempos, making it impossible to assess music quality. To me, it was all simply fast, scary, and incomprehensible. I remember scouring metal forums for hours to learn which albums were the “classics,” only to listen to them and question why they were considered as such. If this is a “good” extreme metal album, I would wonder, what does a “bad” one sound like? In this regard, I almost wish The Ventriloquist had existed back then. Because it would have provided the perfect answer to that question.” Bad lip reading.

Vane – Black Vengeance Review

By Holdeneye on November 28, 2018 in 2018, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Moshpit Promotions, Polish Metal, Reviews, Groove Metal, Melodic Death Metal, 60 comments

“If you’re anything like me, you often find yourself pondering the great questions of the universe. For instance, like me you’ve probably wondered what would happen if Lamb of God and Kataklysm made sweet love while Alestorm sat in the corner reading them a bedtime story. Unlike most of the big questions plaguing humanity, we no longer have to speculate on this one. Polish band Vane love drama on the high seas, and on their debut album Black Vengeance, they throw their three-pointed hat into the hotly contested ring of pirate metal. Is this going to be worth the pay-per-view fee?” Hoist the N00bs and batten down the skull pit!

Revolutio – Vagrant Review

By Saunders on November 8, 2018 in 2018, Alt-Metal, Inverse Records, Italian Metal, Reviews, Thrash Metal, Alt-Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 22 comments

“When I look back, there’s been a notable lack of quality thrash, aside from the weirdo avant thrash of Voivod’s latest. Maybe my ears have been directed in the wrong places, but the genre in which I cut my teeth on many years ago continues to largely disappoint. So with a flicker of fleeting optimism I jumped on the chance to check out unheralded Italian thrashers Revolutio on their debut platter, Vagrant. But how does it fare? And should you give a shit?” Revolto, resisto.

HateSphere – Reduced to Flesh Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on October 20, 2018 in 2018, Danish Metal, Groove Metal, Reviews, Scarlet Records, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 26 comments

“Well, it’s been three years since we’ve heard anything from Denmark’s HateSphere. You know what that means. Another HateSphere record. As I’ve said before, I’m only mildly entertained by the Scandinavian groove/thrash of HateSphere. Because of this, they may never receive a glowing review from me but I gotta give ’em props. While not the most interesting band in their field, they are definitely one of the most consistent. With a new element here and a new vocal approach there, they keep their fanbase coming back for more. Not to mention they’ve been dropping albums every 1-3 years since 2001. And, now, after nearly two decades as a band, HateSphere is about to drop their tenth full-length release, Reduced to Flesh.” Don’t hate spheres.

Betzefer – Entertain Your Force of Habit Review

By Master of Muppets on September 19, 2018 in 2018, Groove Metal, Hard Rock, Israeli Metal, Metalville, Reviews, Groove Metal, Hard Rock, 72 comments

“Picture this, if you will. It’s Friday night, for at least a little while longer anyway. The air is thick with smoke and raised voices, illuminated only vaguely by various neon signs and their reflections off countless bottles and glasses. Here at the Angry Metal Bikerer Bar®, the music matches the mood: from a cramped corner masquerading as a stage, four angry metal guys unleash gravely growls and swagtastic riffage unto the leather and denim-clad patrons with a gritty little ditty titled ‘Ain’t No Party ‘Til You Hurt Somebody.'” Far beyond dreidel.

Zarraza – Necroshiva Review

By GardensTale on May 19, 2018 in 2018, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Kazakh Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 26 comments

“Quick, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say ‘Kazakhstan?’ I’d bet good money the majority of you would reply ‘Borat’ to that question. Fact is, many of us know very little about the largest landlocked country in the world (thanks, Wikipedia!) despite the fairly major economic power the country represents. Maybe it’s because metal is not a popular thing there. Despite its 18 million inhabitants, the Metal Archives lists barely over two dozen active bands, with the only one of any prominence, the prolific classic metal act Holy Dragons. Zarraza does not intend to put up with that, nor with anything else, judging by their furious debut Necroshiva.” Thrashistan.

Kaos Reign – Epiphany Review

By Treble Yell on April 15, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Groove Metal, Reviews, Skumbagh Records, Thrash Metal, Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, 16 comments

““The heart wants what the heart wants,” though trite, succinctly sums up how we’re only interested in feeding our own desires. Biases, predilections, call it what you will – this inertia keeps us in a constant orbit around our personal sun and clarifying why we won’t, or can’t break free is a sometimes elusive task. I’m no different, scratch my skin and what oozes out is a clump of thrash cells. This can be explained away by Metallica being the Vergil to my Dante, guiding me down a spiraling path that was followed by Megadeth, Pantera and Machine Head.” Reign in kaos.

Dirty Shirt & Ansamblul Transilvania – FolkCore DeTour Review

By Angry Metal Guy on March 21, 2018 in 2018, Apathia Records, Folk Metal, Groove Metal, Reviews, Romanian Metal, Folk Metal, Groove Metal, 31 comments

“FolkCore DeTour, the first live album from Romania’s groovy folk metal ensemble Dirty Shirt, hooked me as it waltzed out the door with clarinet and plucked strings on ‘Rapsodia Romana.'” AMG has always had a soft spot for folk metal, so see what he has to say about Romania’s first gypsy metal band. Eurovision, eat your heart out!

Global Scum – Hell is Home Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on February 24, 2018 in 2018, Austrian Metal, Groove Metal, NRT Records, Reviews, Groove Metal, 0 comments

“Global Scum is a one-man project of Manuel Harlander, hailing from Austria. If one has the talent (and Harlander certainly does), a one-man project allows for a focused vision of what metal is to an individual to be promulgated, without concessions or creative differences. Metal toGlobal Scum finds its realization in groove; that dark and punishing sound associated with Pantera and modernized with the help of death metal from Sweden.” The groove is in the heart.